# HOA horror story **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 22, 2024, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hoa-horror-story/999217 "2024-03-22T19:04:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Deanna\_D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e495f1/32.png) [@Deanna\_D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deanna_D)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2024, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hoa-horror-story/999217/21 "2024-03-23T01:06:31Z")
Everyone who says HOAs are universally evil have obviously never had…that…one…neighbor. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2024, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hoa-horror-story/999217/22 "2024-03-23T01:17:16Z")
They surely aren’t all bad. But it seems a breeding ground for the people who want to be “da rulerz” of their little universe and lord it over everyone. Not healthy. Not where I wanna live. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2024, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hoa-horror-story/999217/23 "2024-03-23T01:19:34Z")
Are there any solutions to the HOA problem I linked to in the OP? ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2024, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hoa-horror-story/999217/24 "2024-03-23T01:27:59Z")
Someone or a group might have to sue the HOA. Quite frankly, given that this is the United States, I’m kind of surprised there have been HOA related shootings. I certainly don’t condone such a thing, but when you mess with someone’s home they get kind of cranky. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2024, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hoa-horror-story/999217/25 "2024-03-23T01:38:24Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > If I want to paint my house polka doted or have a display of toilets in my yard, I’m gonna do it. And if you were my neighbor, I’d show off photos to all my friends. (And take pleasure from it.) > [@Deanna\_D](#): > > Everyone who says HOAs are universally evil have obviously never had…that…one…neighbor. Guess not. I had a really nasty neighbor across the street, but she kept her lawn trimmed and the house looked fine. I don’t see how typical HOA rules would have helped. ---
**Author:** ![Deanna\_D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e495f1/32.png) [@Deanna\_D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deanna_D)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2024, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hoa-horror-story/999217/26 "2024-03-23T01:39:51Z")
A civil lawsuit is probably the only way to go for the article in the OP. And since the local news is in on it, that can only help. I think some of the arbitrary rules HOAs make up are ridiculous, any way over the top. It would be great if local municipalities could monitor what’s going on in some of these communities. It seems like a private entity should not have enough power to fine you endlessly, and force you to sell your own property as the only way to pay your massive fines. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2024, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hoa-horror-story/999217/27 "2024-03-23T01:43:11Z")
They need a good organizer and good legal team willing to do pro-bono work. That is a real mess. You think some state agency could get called to at the least, mediate. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2024, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hoa-horror-story/999217/28 "2024-03-23T01:47:25Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Yeah. I’ve read some. My sister had an HOA problem. Heard her gripe for months about it. Til she sold her house. > It just seems so wrong. Then don’t move to a neighborhood with one. It’s legal because the owner’s agree to it and sign a contract. There are lots of horror stories but the overwhelming majority of HOAs are completely benign. The collect dues for maintaining the landscaping, replacing the roof as needed, servicing the pool, making sure people don’t have giant smelly piles of garbage in the yard. Stuff is voted on by the neighbors and majority rules. Anyone can run for election. It’s not a big deal almost always. Back to the OP…now that’s a nightmare. A real estate attorney needs to take a close look at the bylaws. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2024, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hoa-horror-story/999217/29 "2024-03-23T01:48:56Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > Guess not. I had a really nasty neighbor across the street, but she kept her lawn trimmed and the house looked fine. I don’t see how typical HOA rules would have helped. That’s not what an HOA might help with. But if you lived across the street from someone with a polka dot house who decorated their lawn with old toilets the HOA might help with that. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2024, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hoa-horror-story/999217/30 "2024-03-23T01:55:02Z")
Oh, I won’t live in a HOA neighborhood. Ever. Like I said. Buyer beware. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2024, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hoa-horror-story/999217/31 "2024-03-23T02:02:40Z")
> [@Deanna\_D](#): > > Everyone who says HOAs are universally evil have obviously never had…that…one…neighbor That’s why our home is perfect, to me. No nearby neighbors. And the only two couples living on our private road are much like us. Democrats, nature loving, old folks. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2024, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hoa-horror-story/999217/32 "2024-03-23T04:48:51Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > > [@puzzlegal](#): > > > > Guess not. I had a really nasty neighbor across the street, but she kept her lawn trimmed and the house looked fine. I don’t see how typical HOA rules would have helped. > > That’s not what an HOA might help with. But if you lived across the street from someone with a polka dot house who decorated their lawn with old toilets the HOA might help with that. But I’d get a kick out of having a neighbor who painted polka dots on their house. And there’s a health code that would kick in if someone actually had piles of smelly garbage. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2024, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hoa-horror-story/999217/33 "2024-03-23T05:28:27Z")
I presume that the HOA in question violated the rules and the new bylaws amendment is invalid. Even if THAT on was by the rules, many HOA’s don’t follow the rules. Problem is, who can you get to enforce them? Do you go to court on every illegal $300 fine? Who prevents the “President” from presiding when they refuse to hold elections or be voted out? Where is any due process in any of this? ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2024, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hoa-horror-story/999217/34 "2024-03-23T06:28:57Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Who prevents the “President” from presiding when they refuse to hold elections or be voted out? Where is any due process in any of this? The President of an HOA isn’t going to appreciate 1000 people standing in front of their house wearing masks. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2024, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hoa-horror-story/999217/35 "2024-03-23T06:47:51Z")
What stops a like minded group of homeowners making their own association and officially getting a petition to oust the old group? And then making different more accommodating bylaws that everyone contributed to and voted on. This is not like city government or some legally managed apartment complex. These apparently are private homes. HOAs aren’t law enforcement. They could send me fines til hell freezes over. I’d fight that crap as far as I could take it. How can a mortgage company accept a lien on a home loan from these HOAs? It doesn’t seem possible. I don’t understand how these things work, that’s true. If I bought a house on a lot and it was in my name and I made the payments they could kiss my ass. I’d bring a lawsuit if they tried. Now if I had agreed to it, which I wouldn’t, but if I did, I assume they’d have to follow the rules as well. Changing the rules in the middle of the game would have to be agreed to. Bad form. Not acceptable. People want to live in nice areas. I see that. But a little grampa doing a bit of woodwork in a garage is not gonna hurt anyone. Grass a little taller never did a wrong thing. It’s all so stupid as to be ridiculous. I can’t believe people actually ever agree to these things. Those people in the link need to go to court together. Full force. I’d donate money to it. That’s what they need a Go fundme page. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2024, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hoa-horror-story/999217/36 "2024-03-23T07:34:32Z")
Can someone explain to me what an HOA is? In Australia, if I buy a house it is on a freehold title, that allows me to do whatever the fuck I want (provided it comes under the local council approvals). Eg, I can paint my house, erect a fence, have a dog or whatever. BUT, if I buy a ‘unit’ that is housed on an allottment that was created to build that unit, THEN I am beholden to the Strata governance. Which sounds an awful lot like an HOA. Can someone explain the difference to this furriner? ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2024, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hoa-horror-story/999217/37 "2024-03-23T10:25:25Z")
Strata and HOA are almost the same thing. At least “strata” in Canada is practically synonymous with HOA or Condo Association in the US. ---
**Author:** ![El\_DeLuxo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_deluxo/32/9043_2.png) [@El\_DeLuxo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_DeLuxo)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2024, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hoa-horror-story/999217/38 "2024-03-23T10:43:34Z")
> [@](#): > > There are a LOT of people who freak out at the idea that someone would park their work pickup in their driveway, paint their house an “odd color” or have a garden beyond tight-assed foundation shrubs. Well, those sound like _their_ problems, not the other person’s. I just can’t see those kinds of things as being objectionable, or as being any of the complainer’s business; and why indeed should the repressive party’s side be given priority? Maybe they should just lay off, relax, accept that other people don’t _have_ to do things their way, even in their line of sight. Why should the tight-assed dictatorial party in the conflict take priority? > [@](#): > > They’re scared that property values will suffer That argument has always pissed me off somewhat. Property value is less important than personal freedom, and shouldn’t give the restricive party any say in what the other person does on _their_ property. What color A paints his house doesn’t effect anything about B’s. And objecting to thesight of someone’s work truck parked in the truck owner’s lot reflects classist attitudes that should be censured, not empowered. > [@](#): > > or just get highly irritated by nonconformists. And that’s the core of the whole issue. Those who are highly irritated by nonconformists ought to be told to shut up, get over themselves, and mind their own business rather than being encouraged. Coercion of compliance is an unlovely aspect of society (especially American) that should be questioned and rejected, not coddled and codified. > [@](#): > > Or they have somewhat more realistic objections to, say, the woman who decides to run a daycare operation out of her home and want a readymade way to clamp down on that. Even in such a case as that, there’s plenty of room for debate. If W wants to run a daycare out of their home, is _qualified_ to run such a business, and takes appropriate measures to keep their activity from annoying the neighbors, why should X, Y and Z’s carping about it be, by default, privileged over W’s side of the matter? > [@](#): > > Such folks willingly buy homes where there are restrictive HOAs and tolerate the little dictators who run them, or enjoy becoming little dictators themselves. Then it’s all about catering to some of the uglier aspects of our culture, that we’d be better off rejecting out of hand instead of accepting and weaponizing for the conservative and reactionary element to use against the more unusual, creative, open-minded of their fellow persons. Have I got that right? The more I hear about HOAs and how they react to these kinds of situations, the more unjust, oppressive, and aggravating they reveal themselves to be. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2024, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hoa-horror-story/999217/39 "2024-03-23T12:42:20Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > This is not like city government or some legally managed apartment complex. These apparently are private homes. HOAs aren’t law enforcement. They could send me fines til hell freezes over. I’d fight that crap as far as I could take it. In my state, HOA’s are treated like quasi-municipal entities except without the accountability. And membership is required as per the deed so no opting out. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2024, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hoa-horror-story/999217/40 "2024-03-23T13:01:30Z")
HOA’s are common in places that have few or no zoning laws, like Texas. Sometimes, you can’t find a house without one. They also exist in developments that have shared resources, like a pool or a fitness center. Basically, my town government serves those functions. We have zoning laws (which don’t get into what color you can paint the house, but do require a certain amount of setback if you expand you house or put up a shed) and the town operates several services, including plowing the streets and providing life guards at a local pond in the summer. I’m happy to live in a place with few legal restrictions on what i can do, esthetically. (The state building/electrical/etc. codes have gotten pretty strict.) It suits me well. But that’s harder to find in some parts of the country. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hoa-horror-story/999217.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hoa-horror-story/999217.md?page=3)